Variable grip locking pin



Feb. 8, 1966 c. 0. DE PEW ET AL 3,233,496

VARIABLE GRIP LOCKING PIN Original Filed Jan. 25, 1960 a 1 fi Zfl a M wz a 4 f Q "Q" //3 U7 r \AA\, M 7 2 3 2 W 7 25 3 33 INVENTORS Z9 CHESTERC. DEPEW,

NOEI/AL F FR/CK 5) THE/E ATTOEA/EKF HA/ee/s, K/scH, Posse/.1. & KERNUnited States Patent Claims. (Cl. 85-5) This application is acontinuation of our copending application Serial No. 4,521 filed January25, 1960,110W abandoned.

This invention relates to fasteners for clamping or gripping structuresof various sizes and is often referred to as a variable span pin orfastener. Hence, an object of the invention is to provide a variablegrip pin of the self-clamping type. A further object of the invention isto provide a fastener that is reuseable as often as desired with thesame size or with different sizes of members to be clamped. A furtherobject is to provide such a fastener that is especially adapted for usewith latching means of the ball detent type.

It is an object of the invention to provide a variable grip fastenerthat may be designed for use with different thicknesses of material andone which is especially adapted for manufacturing in very small sizes. Aspecific object is to provide such a fastener that may have a maximumdiameter in the order of three-sixteenths of an inchf It is an object ofthe invention to provide a fastener that is suitable for insertion andremoval in remote locations by means of tools which place the fastenerin position and remove it.

It is an object of the invention to provide a fastener having an outerbody and an inner body with the outer body engaging one surface of astructure being clamped and the inner body projecting through thestructure to the other surface. A further object is to provide such afastener wherein the inner body carries a detent and pin assembly withthe detent adapted for engaging the other surfaceof the structure andthe pin adapted for moving the detent between retracted and extendedpositions. A further object is to provide such a structure includingspring means for urging the pin toward its locked position and urgingthe inner body toward its inserting position so that the detent isextended and the structure is clamped between the outer body and thedetent. A further object is to provide such a fastener wherein thelocking and clamping is achieved with a single spring. A still furtherobject is to provide such a fastener wherein the locking and clamping isachieved with two separate springs.

The invention also comprises novel details of construction and novelcombinations and arrangements of parts, which will more fully appear inthe course of the following description. scription merely describespreferred embodiments of the present invention which are given by way ofillustration or example.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a preferred form of the fastener of theinvention in the clamping position;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the structure of FIG. 1 with the innerbody in the inserting position;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of an alternative form of the invention inthe clamping position;

' FIG. 4 is an end view of the structure of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the structure of FIG. 3 in the insertingposition.

Referring now to the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, the fastener 10 isbeing used in conjunction with a struc- The drawing merely shows and thedeture comprising plates 11, 12 for clamping the plates together, theplates having aligned openings 13', 14 through which a portion of thefastener passes. v

The fastener includes an open ended, tubular outer body 17 and an innerbody 18, the inner body being carried by the outer body, preferably inthe telescoping form shown in the drawing, with a bolt portion 19 of theinner body projecting beyond the outer body for entering the alignedopenings of the plates. As shown in the drawing, the inner body 18 isguided for sliding movement within the outer body 17 by an internalflange 17a at one end of body 17 fitting closely about the body 18, andby an external flange 18a on one end of body 18 fitting closely withinlarger bore of body 17. An end 20 of the outer body forms an abutmentfor engaging an outer surface 21 of the plate 11 and the inner bodycarries a latching means for engaging the outer surface 22 of the plate12.

The inner body 18 is slidable relative to the outer body 17 between aninward inserting position, as shown in FIG. 2 and an outward clampingposition, as shown in FIG. 1. A spring 23 positioned between shouldersformed by flanges 18a and 17a on the inner and outer bodies and urgesthe inner body toward the inward inserting position and exerts aclamping force on the plates 11, 12 as explained more fully below.

Various types of latching means may be used with the fastener. Apreferred form is shown herein consisting of a detent structureutilizing one or more laterally movable balls. Aligned radial passages26, 27 are provided in the bolt portion 19 of inner body 18 adjacent theprojecting end, with ball detents 28, 29 positioned in the passages 25,27 respectively, for movement inwardly and outwardly between innerretracted positions, as shown in FIG. 2, and outer extended positions,as shown in FIG. 1. When in their extend-ed positions, the detents 28,29 prevent withdrawal of the bolt portion from the aligned openings ofthe plates. The outer ends of the passages 26, 27 are peened or stakedto prevent loss of the detents.

A plunger or pin 32 is reciprocable in a longitudinal passage 33 in theinner body between a locked position, as shown in FIG. 1, and anunlocked position, as shown in FIG. 2. An annular groove 34 is providedin the pin 32 to receive the ball detents 28, 29, permitting them tomove inwardly to their retracted posit-ions when the pin is in theunlocked position of FIG. 2. An annular section 35 of greater diameteris positioned adjacent the groove 34 for moving the detents outwardly totheir extended positions when the pin is moved to its locked position asshown in FIG. 1. A spring is positioned between shoulder 32a on the pin32 and an internal shoulder 18b on the inner body 18 for urging the pinto its locked position, the pin 32 being retained within inner body 18by an abutment formed as a rolled-over edge 37 of the inner body.

The fastener is shown in the clamping position in FIG. 1 with the spring36 urging the pin 32 to its locked position maintaining the detentsextended and with the spring 23 urging the inner body toward itsinserting position thereby exerting a clamping force on the plates. Thefastener is released by applying a force to the pin 32 to compress thespring 36 and move the groove 34 into register with the detents 28, 29.Compression of the spring 36 permits the detents to move inwardly which,in turn, permits the compressed spring 23 to expand, thereby moving theinner body relative to the outer body and withdrawing the detents fromthe plates to the position of FIG. 2.

The fastener is installed by first placing the end 20 of the outer bodyin contact with a surface of the structure to be clamped, with theportion 19 of the inner body inserted in the opening of the structure.Then the spring 23 is compressed by applying a force to the inner bodyto move the inner body and the detents through the opening of thestructure. When the detents reach the other outer surface of thestructure, they will be moved outward by the action of the spring 36 andthe pin 32, to lock the detents in the outer position as shown in FIG.1.

A tool particularly adapted for inserting the fastener is shown in FIG.2. The tool includes a tube 40 with a recess 41in the end thereof and aplunger 42 slidable within the tube. The wall of the tube forming therecess may be slotted to provide a gripping force on the outer body 17of the fastener. The tool ordinarily is long and thin, permittinginsertion of fasteners in locations not manually accessible. Forexample, a fastener may have a diameter of three-sixteenths of an inch,with the tool being one-quarter inch 0.1). tubing and twelve inches inlength.

In using the tool, a fastener is pushed into the recess 41 whichproduces a gripping force on the outer body. The plunger 42 is in thewithdrawn position as shown in FIG. 2. Then the end 2%) of the outerbody is placed in contact with a surface of the structure, with theinner body portion 18-19 projecting through the opening in thestructure. The outer body is maintained in this position by means of thetube d while the plunger 42 is advanced into engagement with the innerbody 18 to compress the spring 23. The inner body 13 is moved to theclamping position with the pin forcing the detents out.- Ward. When thefastener is thus positioned, the tool is removed by pulling the tubing40 away from the outer body.

The fastener of FIGS. 1 and 2 provides for clamping structures ofvarying thicknesses, the inner and outer body members being slidablerelative to each other with the clamping force being produced by thespring positioned between the two bodies.

An alternative form of the fastener utilizing only a single spring isshown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5. Identical elements in the two embodiments areidentified by the same reference numerals.

A flange 45 projects radially from the pin 32 past the inner body 18 anda similar flange 46 projects from the inner body 18 at a differentradialangle. The flange of the pin is alignable with the flange of theinner body when the pin is in its locked position as seen in FIG. 3. Aspring 47 is positioned around the inner body 18 with one end 48engaging the outer body 1 7 and the other end 49 engaging the flanges46, 4 7. A stop in the form of a bent-in corner 50 in the outer body 17limits movement of the inner body toward the outward clamping positionand a turned-in rim 51 of the outer body limits movement of the innerbody in the opposite direction.

A tool for use in inserting and removing the fastener is shown in FIG.5, the tool including a tube 54 having a recess 55 for receiving theouter body 17 with an annular boss 53 in the recess 55 for engaging theinner body 18, and a plunger 56 slidable within the tube 54 andterminating in a boss 57 for engaging the pin 32.

The fastener may be positioned in a structure by first placing the outerbody in the recess 55 of the tube with the boss 58; moving the flange456 to the stop 50 and then advancing the plunger 56 to compress thespring 47 and move the pin 32 to its unlocked position, as seen in FIG.5. Then the projecting portion 19 of the inner body is passed throughthe aligned opening of the plates and the end 20 of the outer body isbrought into contact with the outer surface of a plate. The plunger 56is now withdrawn permitting the spring 47 to move the pin to its lockedposition with the detents extended. As the spring expands further italso urges the inner body toward its inserting position and exerts aclamping force on the plates between the outer body and the detents, asseen in FIG. 3. The fastener is removed by reversing this process. Thepin is moved to its unlocked position and then the inner body is-Withdrawn through the openings of the plates. Of course, it should benoted that the fastener may be installed and removed manually as Well asby means of the tool disclosed herein.

The fastener of FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 may be used for clamping structures ofdifferent thicknesses as is the fastener of FIGS. 1 and 2, and isparticularly adapted for use where a very small fastener is required.This alternative embodiment requires only a single spring and may beproduced with a maximum diameter as small as three-sixteenths of aninch.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the portion 18 of the inner bodylocated Within the outer body comprises a head portion, and the externalportion 19 comprises a bolt portion. It will also be noted that theouter body 17 is provided with an inturned flange 171) at its outer endwhich forms an abutment to prevent movement of the head portion 18 ofthe inner body out of the outer end of the outer body 17. Therolled-over edge 37 at the end of the inner body head portion 18 formsan abutment to prevent movement of the head of pin 32 out of the end ofthe inner body 18 In FIGS. 3 to 5, the flange 45 carried by pin 32comprises an abutment on which a portion of the outer end of spring 47is seated, and fiange 46 carried by inner body 18 comprises an abutmenton which another portion of the outer end of spring 47 is seated.

Although exemplary embodiments of the invention have been disclosed anddiscussed, it will be understood that other applications of theinvention are possible and that the embodiments disclosed may besubjected to various changes, modifications and substitutions Withoutnecessarily departing from the spirit of the invention.

'We claim:

1. A releasable blind fastener for clamping plate members havingopenings therein comprising, in combination: a tubular outer body havingan open end and a centrally bored abutment end for engaging a surface ofa member to be clamped; an .inner body having an open-ended head portiontelescopingly slidable within said outer body and having a bolt portionprojecting beyond said abutment end for entering an opening in themember to be clamped, said inner body being movable in said outer bodybetween an inward inserting position and an outward clamping position,an abutment carried by said outer body to prevent movement of the headportion of said inner body out of said outer body, said inner bodyhaving a longitudinal passage open at the inward end thereof; a detentcarried adjacent the projecting end of said bolt portion of the innerbody and movable between inner retracted and outer extended positions,said detent projecting laterally from said inner body when in saidextended position to engage the member tobe clamped on the surfacethereof opposite from the surface engaged by the abutment end of saidouter body; a pin movable in said passage between inward locked andoutward unlocked positions and having means thereon for moving saiddetent into its extended position when said pin is in said lockedposition and means thereon to receive the detent when in. the un lockedposition, the head end of said pin being located within the open-endedhead portion of said inner body; and spring means positioned about saidpin and within said outer body and urging said pin toward saidinwardlocked position and urging said inner body toward said insertingposition for clamping a member between said abutment end of said outerbody and said extended detent, abutment means carried by one of saidbodies to prevent; movement of the head end of said pin out of the openend of said outer body, the head of said pin being acces-. sible throughthe open ends of said outer and inner bodies, whereby pressure maybeapplied to the head end of said;

pin through said open ends to move said pin against said spring means.

2. A fastener according to claim 1 wherein said spring means comprises alocking spring acting between abutments on said pin and inner body andurging said pin to- Wards said inward locked position and a clampingspring acting between abutments on said inner and outer bodies andurging said inner body towards said inward inserting position.

3. A fastener according to claim 2, wherein said detent is located onsaid bolt portion in such position that, when said inner body is in itsinner inserting position, the detent is located in the bore of theabutment end of said outer body and is held by the outer body in itsretracted position.

4. A releasable blind fastener for clamping plate members havingopenings therein comprising, in combination: a tubular outer body havingan open end and a centrally bored abutment end for engaging a surface ofa member to be clamped; an inner body having an open ended head portiontelescopingly slidable within said outer body and having a bolt portionprojecting beyond said abutment end for entering an opening in themember to be clamped, said inner body being movable in said outer bodybetween an inward inserting position and an outward clamping position,an abutment carried by said outer body to prevent movement of the headportion of said inner body out of said outer body, said inner bodyhaving a longitudinal passage open at the inward end thereof; a detentcarried adjacent the projecting end of said bolt portion of the innerbody and movable between inner retracted and outer extended positions,said detent projecting laterally from said inner body when in saidextended position to engage the member to be clamped on the surfacethereof opposite from the surface engaged by the abutment end of saidouter body; a pin movable in said passage between inward locked andoutward unlocked positions and having means thereon for moving saiddetent into its extended position when said pin is in said lockedposition and means thereon to receive the detent when in the unlockedposition, the head end of said pin being located within the open-endedhead portion of said inner body; and spring means positioned about saidpin and within said outer body and urging said pin toward said inwardlocked position and urging said inner body toward said insertingposition for clamping a member between said abutment end of said outerbody and said extended detent, abutment means carried by one of saidbodies to prevent movement of the head end of said pin out of the openend of said outer body, the head of said pin being accessible throughthe open ends of said outer and inner bodies, whereby pressure may beapplied to the head end of said pin through said open ends to move saidpin against said spring means, said spring means comprising a singlehelical spring having one end seated on an internal shoulder on saidouter body adjacent the abutment end thereof, the other end of saidspring having one portion thereof seated on an abutment carried by saidpin and another portion seated on an abutment carried by said innerbody.

5. A releasable blind fastener for clamping plate members havingopenings therein comprising, in combination: a tubular outer body havingan open end and a centrally bored abutment end for engaging a surface ofa member to be clamped; said outer body having an inwardly extendingabutment adjacent the open end thereof and an inwardly extending radialshoulder axially spaced from the abutment, an inner body having*a'radially extending head portion slidably positioned between theabutment and the radial shoulder on the outer body and having a boltportion projecting through the bore of said abutment end for entering anopening in the member to be clamped, said inner body being movable insaid outer body between an inward inserting position and an outwardclamping position, the abutment carried by said outer body adjacent theopen end thereof serving to prevent movement of the head portion of saidinner body out of said outer body, said inner body having a longitudinalpassage open at the inward end thereof; a ball detent carried adjacentthe pro jecting end of said bolt portion of the inner body and movablebetween inner retracted and outer extended positions, said detentprojecting laterally from said inner body when in said extended positionto engage the member to be clamped on the surface thereof opposite fromthe surface engaged by the abutment end of said outer body; a pinmovable in said passage between inward locked and outward unlockedpositions and having means thereon for moving said detent into itsextended position when said pin is in said locked position and meansthereon to receive the detent when in the unlocked position, the headend of said pin being located within the open-ended head portion of saidinner body; and spring means positioned about said pin and within saidouter body and urging said pin toward said inward locked position andurging said inner body toward said inserting position for clamping amember between said abutment end of said outer body and said extendeddetent, abutment means carried by the inner body adjacent the open endthereof to prevent movement of the head end of said pin out of the openend of said outer body, a radial shoulder in the longitudinal passage ofsaid inner body axially spaced from said abutment means, said pin havinga radially extending head portion slidably positioned between theabutment means and the shoulder on the inner body, the head portion ofsaid pin being accessible through the open ends of said outer and innerbodies, whereby pressure may be applied to the head end of said pinthrough said open ends to move said pin against said spring means.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,256,243 9/ 1941Edwards. 2,313,883 3/1943 Lowther. 2,373,083 4/ 1945 Brewster. 3,117,4841/1964 Myers. "5 FOREIGN PATENTS 897,080 5/ 1944 France.

CARL W. TOMLIN, Primary Examiner.

EDWARD C. ALLEN, Examiner.

R. S. BRITTS, Assistant Examiner.

5. A RELEASABLE BLIND FASTENER FOR CLAMPING PLATE MEMBERS HAVINGOPENINGS THEREIN COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION: A TUBULAR OUTER BODY HAVINGAN OPEN END AND A CENTRALLY BORED ABUTMENT END FOR ENGAGING A SURFACE OFA MEMBER TO BE CLAMPED; SAID OUTER BODY HAVING AN INWARDLY EXTENDINGABUTMENT ADJACENT THE OPEN END THEREOF AND AN INWARDLY EXTENDING RADIALSHOULDER AXIALLY SPACED FROM THE ABUTMENT, AN INNER BODY HAVING ARADIALLY EXTENDING HEAD PORTION SLIDABLY POSITIONED BETWEEN THE ABUTMENTAND THE RADIAL SHOULDER ON THE OUTER BODY AND HAVING A BOLT PORTIONPROJECTING THROUGH THE BORE OF SAID ABUTMENT END FOR ENTERING AN OPENINGIN THE MEMBER TO BE CLAMPED, SAID INNER BODY BEING MOVABLE IN SAID OUTERBODY BETWEEN AN INWARD INSERTING POSITION AND AN OUTWARD CLAMPINGPOSITION, THE ABUTMENT CARRIED BY SAID OUTER BODY ADJACENT THE OPEN ENDTHEREOF SERVING TO PREVENT MOVEMENT OF THE HEAD PORTION OF SAID INNERBODY OUT OF SAID OUTER BODY, SAID INNER BODY HAVING A LONGITUDINALPASSAGE OPEN AT THE INWARD END THEREOF; A BALL DETENT CARRIED ADJACENTTHE PROJECTING END OF SAID BOLT PORTION OF THE INNER BODY AND MOVABLEBETWEEN INNER RETRACTED AND OUTER EXTENDED POSITIONS, SAID DETENTPROJECTING LATERALLY FROM SAID INNER BODY WHEN IN SAID EXTENDED POSITIONTO ENGAGE THE MEMBER TO OUTWARD UNLOCKED POSITIONS AND HAVING MEANSTHEREON FOR MOVING SAID DETENT INTO ITS EXTENDED POSITION WHEN SAID PINIS IN SAID LOCKED POSITION AND MEANS THEREON TO RECEIVE THE DETENT WHENTHE UNLOCKED POSITION, THE HEAD END OF SAID PIN BEING LOCATED WITHIN THEOPEN-ENDED HEAD PORTION OF SAID INNER BODY; AND SPRING MEANS POSITIONED